Sony HDR-HC3 HDV 1080i Handycam Camcorder

SONY HDR-HC3 HDV 1080I HANDYCAM CAMCORDER REVIEW - Ease of Use Turns HD Capability into a Bonus

October 2006 By ––David Thomas

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The camcorder’s image stabilization is good, but not great. If you’re trying to hold a steady shot while zoomed in on an object at a distance, the stabilization will compensate for your shaky hands fairly well. On the other hand, if you’re walking along and trying to do some sort of tracking shot without a dolly (admittedly, a bad idea to begin with) it will not be able to compensate much for your shaky feet or the bumpy ground.

The still camera capabilities are nothing to write home about. While it’s nice that you can take pictures while recording, the resulting pictures are no better than any other camcorder’s digital stills, which is to say, mediocre at best. Your stills will have the same color aberrations you get from any other camcorder which is much better at being a camcorder.

Ultimately, the HDR-HC3 is a winning entry into the growing handheld HDV market, matching its gorgeous picture with ease of use to make entering the world of high definition home video a far more inviting prospect. yy